The Edinburgh based firm set out to attract fresh talent into the sector which is badly needed, according to recent research which suggests more than 60% of telecoms engineers are over 50.

This comes at the same time as research reveals 42% of telecoms businesses are reporting a skills gap in the external labour market.

In rural and island locations, finding employees with telecoms skills can be an even greater challenge.

As part of the Orkney International Science Festival, FarrPoint’s Alan Patterson, Nikki Robertson and Kristina Vard visited Kirkwall Grammar School to deliver two ‘Connectivity and the Internet of Things’ workshops for young people.

The youngsters who attended got the chance to explore the world of connectivity, check their mobile signal strengths and test some smart IoT solutions.

They also learned how to map 4G mobile signal using FarrPoint’s mobile mapping tool at the events over the last two weeks which finished yesterday.

Alan Patterson, Telecoms Consultant at FarrPoint said: “Everyone’s talking about careers in STEM more generally, as various industries try to attract more talent, but you don’t hear much about working in telecoms.

“It may not be the first career choice that comes to mind. However, it’s a sector that has seen huge developments recently and is fast-paced and exciting.

“A job in telecoms could be anything from a satellite engineer who plans and design telecoms infrastructure in space, to a design engineer running the television and internet coverage for major sporting events.

“A telecom leader planning how high streets and shopping centres function, or in the health sector where connectivity is hugely important to improving health care.”

Nikki Robertson, GIS consultant at FarrPoint added: “It was great to see so many young people get involved in our hands-on workshops, which we designed specifically to demonstrate that telecoms can be fun and engaging.

“There are so many routes into our industry, but if you have an interest in technology and how things work, that is an excellent start.

“Most of us have a smart mobile phone these days and can’t imagine a life without the Internet – it would certainly be a very different world to the one most young people are used to.

“But to keep that rate of progress going, we need more young talent to consider joining the sector.”

Maha Abhishek, Deputy Festival Director said: “We were thrilled to have FarrPoint join us at the Orkney International Science Festival’s Family Day for young people and their families to delve into the fascinating world of connectivity and the Internet of Things.

“Their presence added a unique and valuable dimension to our event, shedding light on topics that are often not commonly explored within the vibrant programme of science festivals.

“This opportunity was especially meaningful for remote communities in Orkney, as it allowed us to engage with these intriguing subjects in a way we rarely get to do.”

Andrea Rutherford, HIE’s head of policy for Digital Highlands and Islands, said: “The use of Internet of technology is growing all the time in industry, as more and more firms discover the business benefits it can bring.

“This emphasises the crucial nature of both digital connectivity and digital skills.

“Engaging young people at the Orkney Science and giving them an insight into how technology and connectivity is applied in business is a great way to encourage many of them to start thinking about potential technology-related career options.”

The post FarrPoint inspires young people into telecoms at Orkney Science Festival appeared first on Deadline News.

The ethical AI rec-tech has hired D&I heavyweights Emily Lawrence and Rashida Adekunle to grow corporate retention, candidate experience and employer partnerships. 

The firm is also currently going through a £1.2m private fundraising round.

Emily Lawrence has a deep understanding of employee benefits and aims to drive strategic growth to strengthen Clu’s position as an inclusive hiring solution for employers.

As the Senior Customer Success Manager, Rashida Adekunle will work closely with Clu’s diverse partner network to ensure they receive the highest level of service and support. 

Both roles will ensure Clu’s platform meets the evolving needs of organisations and their workforce, to help drive Clu’s target of adding one million socially mobile people to the workforce over the next ten years. 

Joseph Williams, Co-Founder and CEO of Clu, said: “Our two major appointments mark a significant milestone.

“Their wealth of experience and industry knowledge will be instrumental in forging strategic partnerships with employers and expanding our reach.” 

Newly hired Emily Lawrence said: “Clu is revolutionising the way employers engage with diverse talent; using unparalleled data to drive changes to hiring process, empower skills-based talent matching and accelerate social mobility for marginalised groups.  

“Joining Clu was an easy decision, to support the next stage of expansion and eliminate unconscious bias as a barrier to employment.

“Truly inclusive hiring is required at every major corporation in an increasingly diverse workforce, to ensure no one is left behind, jobseeker or employer.” 

Following her appointment, Rashida Adekunle said: “I was truly inspired by Clu’s commitment to inclusivity and eliminating bias, creating diverse and inclusive workplaces and driving positive change in the recruitment industry.

“I am excited to work with an innovative platform prioritising candidate experience, corporate retention, and meaningful employer partnerships.

“Together, we can transform the hiring process and impact the lives of job seekers and employers alike,” Rashida added.

The London-based Clu began trading last year to secure skills aligned work and has a predicted revenue of £12 million by 2026.

Current major business customers include the BBC, ASOS, Warner Bros and Oliver Bonas. 

The post AI recruiting tech firm grows commercial arm with two key hires to drive strategic growth appeared first on Deadline News.

Thanks to £188,000 of funding from Innovate UK, Omnitool are now working with the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) to implement a new upgrade that will boost production and aid expansion into new markets.

Irvine-based Omnitool provide precision engineering services to oil, gas, renewable and nuclear centres across the country.

The business hopes that its new digital upgrade will see machine idle time cut in half, with production capacity increased by 10%.

Family run since 2005, Omnitool hope that by boosting its production capacity the company will be able to expand into new markets, create new jobs and reduce emissions.

The digital upgrade will see Omnitool implement offline programming techniques and train employees on coding skills.

Omnitool engineers will use digital twins, computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) to program machines offline – minimising disruption and increasing efficiency.

One of the most technically capable machining facilities in the UK, Omnitool recently invested over £2.5m in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines to produce high-value products for a range of sectors, such as aerospace and energy.  

Mark McKell, operations director at Omnitool, said: “The previous online programming approach meant there was significant idle time while the machines were being set up, but this project allowed us to adopt a high-tech digital approach.

 “The increased capacity will enable us to grow the business and target new sectors such as aerospace.

“We’ll be using the new strategy to transform our entire manufacturing processes in the years ahead.”

 “Over the next three years, Omnitool hopes to gain the skills required across the company to introduce the new digital approach across 90% of its production centres and anticipates 10 new roles will be created as a result.

“As well as boosting capacity, the switch to offline programming will also have sustainable benefits for the company, helping to reduce waste and cut emissions by up to 12 tonnes of CO₂e per year”.

Daniele Marini, supply chain and operational transformation lead at NMIS, added: “Omnitool has embraced the opportunity to integrate new digital processes.

By sharing the results of its transformation, alongside how-to guidelines, we hope to inspire other manufacturing businesses to unlock additional capacity in a similar way.”

The post Scottish engineering business to have production boosted by digital upgrade appeared first on Deadline News.

John Watson has been appointed as the firm’s new Chair, while Steve Dunlop, who has been Chair for the past two years, will take up the full-time role of Chief Executive.

Founder and former CEO Lindsay Wallace becomes Executive Director Sales & Innovations Europe to continue his work in broadening the reach of new EV charging models.    

The new-look leadership team comes during a significant growth phase for the business, which has seen it launch a new brand and website.

The company plans to install 1,700 EV charge points across 600 sites in Scotland and beyond.

FOR:EV aims to address the challenges of carbon emissions in the UK’s transport sector and has developed a bespoke ‘charging as a service’ model for fleet owners and operators.

The company also wants to focus on publicy available ‘destination’ charging points at shopping centres, businesses, transport hubs and visitor destinations.

This dual focus supports the vision of the business’s key investor and shareholder, the Scottish National Investment Bank, to drive forward Scotland’s transition to Net Zero.

New Chair John Watson previously held a number of executive and non-executive positions globally.

He is an Operating Principal of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and is CEO of one of their companies, Crosswind Developments Ltd, which regenerates excess land at Edinburgh Airport. 

Prior to joining GIP, he was Managing Director of Lloyds Banking Group’s $50bn SME Lending portfolio. 

He is heavily focused on sustainability businesses, also being chair of vertical farming business Intelligent Growth Solutions. 

On his appointment to FOR:EV, John said: “It’s a privilege for me to join the forward-thinking team at FOR:EV.

“We hope to make a major contribution to Scotland’s transition to a Net Zero economy by boosting our electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the country.  

“We know that investors and customers are actively backing those organisations that get commercial EV charging right.

“The fresh approach FOR:EV is taking is simple, low risk and scalable for businesses and easy for consumers to use,” John added.

As he takes on the full-time role as CEO, Steve Dunlop said: “There has never been a more critical time for the private sector to step in and help shape the delivery of the green economy. 

“We urgently need a high-quality, user friendly, accessible EV charge point infrastructure to overcome the current barriers to transitioning to electric vehicles.

“FOR:EV is ready to tackle this challenge and I look forward to helping the country find solutions.”

Andy Clapp, Executive Director – Investment Portfolio Management at the Scottish National Investment Bank said: “FOR:EV shares the Bank’s mission to support Scotland’s transition to Net Zero.

“[The company] has a robust pipeline of locations across Scotland to install fast and rapid EV charging infrastructure, as well as providing an innovative ‘charging as a service’ model for fleets of all sizes.

“We look forward to seeing the company grow the availability of charging points across Scotland in the coming years.”

FOR:EV’s founder Lindsay Wallace concluded: “With initial investment from Scottish National Investment Bank in place we have been able to supercharge our capabilities.

“[We] will be targeting installation at multiple sites across Scotland in the next 12 months, as well as investigating other funding sources that will support our ambition to roll out 100% green energy charging across the rest of the UK and beyond.

“With Steve and John on board, and our initial funding beginning to make a real impact, we are perfectly positioned to achieve our goals.”

The post Edinburgh-based FOR:EV appoints new Chair and CEO appeared first on Deadline News.

The collaboration between EnerMech and TSI, an integrated turn around services firm involved in Indonesia’s oil and gas sector, is part of EnerMech’s expansion in the Asia Pacific market.

The partnership aims to deliver business solutions that cater to the unique demands of the region with a focus on enhancing operational efficiency and quality.

The two businesses have worked together on various projects since early 2022.

The new entity, called ‘EnerMech Titian JVA’, will leverage EnerMech’s technology and equipment fleet with TSI’s understanding of the Indonesian market.

To ensure its employees share the same standards for skills and competency, training solutions provider 3t EnerMech will help upskill its Indonesian personnel to become accredited trainers.

With bases in Jakarta and Batam, its workforce is headed up by EnerMech’s regional director for Asia Pacific, Garry Ford.

Garry said: “We are thrilled to officially join forces with TSI and establish a strong presence in Indonesia through this strategic JV.

“Our collaboration represents a significant step forward in our commitment to delivering excellence across all the sectors and countries we operate in.

“We will also be training the local workforce through 3t EnerMech to ensure we have more accredited trainers to be able to deliver the training courses locally.

“TSI has proven to be a trusted partner and by combining strengths, we are creating a powerful synergy that will enable us to deliver unparalleled value to our clients in the Asia Pacific market.”

Tanta Tarigan, managing director from TSI said: “We have a shared vision with EnerMech to drive innovation and foster sustainable growth across Indonesia and the wider Asia Pacific region.

“Through this partnership and training support for the locals on our team, we aim to establish a global benchmark for project execution and delivery.

“The new partnership delivers a truly differentiated experience for our clients,” Tanta added.

The post EnerMech and TSI form strategic joint venture to accelerate Asia Pacific growth appeared first on Deadline News.

The report by Edinburgh-based digital technology company Forrit reveals that the data breaches occurred through the firms’ contenent management systems (CMS).

It explores issues identified by marketers around using a CMS and offers tips to overcome challenges with security, regulation, branding, integration, efficiency and ease of use.

The report also notes that using more than one CMS – as 88% of the organisations surveyed do – could result in an increased security risk.

Peter Proud, CEO of Forrit, said: “Given the highly sensitive nature of information and extensive regulatory requirements in the financial services sector, we know security and compliance are paramount.

“Options like a cloud-based CMS that integrates with the rest of your system and using templates can help marketers be confident they’re reducing security risk while increasing compliance.”

Forrit commissioned Censuswide to survey 254 heads of marketing working in the banking, financial services, insurance, reinsurance and wealth management sectors across the UK in June.

Its subsequent report found that the banking and wealth management sectors were more likely to have suffered a data breach through their CMS in the past three years.

It also notes that three-quarters (75%) of marketers do not consistently use templates, which makes it more difficult to maintain compliance and brand consistency.

Meanwhile, the report also found that over a quarter (27%) of marketers do not localise content for different countries, which could cause compliance issues.

Other issues identified by financial services marketers across the board included ease of use (47%), enforcing brand guidelines (38%) and difficulty integrating with other systems (34%).

Peter Proud continued: “Nearly all the issues senior marketers identified in our research could be mitigated by using a single CMS platform, regardless of the organisation’s size.

“An astonishing 88% of organisations in the financial services sector are using many platforms, which can only be contributing to their challenges.

“A single platform which is secure, flexible, easy to use, and scalable is the simplest way to overcome all the pitfalls marketers identified around their CMSs.

“It’s more secure and can develop alongside your organisation as it grows,” he added.

Founded in 2014, Forrit is an Edinburgh-based digital technology company that has developed enterprise CMS software.

Its full report, titled The Content Management System market in 2023: what marketers in financial services really think, is available to download on the Forrit website.

The post Half of financial services firms had data breached in last three years, report says appeared first on Deadline News.

SCOTLAND has been heralded as the cornerstone of the UK’s space sector expansion as the Government’s Science Minister suggests the country could be the first to launch satellites into orbit from European soil.

George Freeman MP hailed the country as a critical component to the UK’s increasing influence in the commercial space sphere, and believes the surge is reminiscent of the nation’s ship building and oil producing heritage.

The minister shared these views on the long running online space networking webinar, SpaceBar, created by UK-headquartered space marketing firm AstroAgency to help the industry engage outside of its sector and discuss the latest market developments.

Hosted by renowned science broadcaster Dallas Campbell and planetary scientist Professor Suzie Imber; Freeman was asked about what was impressing him in the Scottish space scene.

He said: “We (UK) are a £17bn turnover sector with around 46,000 employees; the Scottish sector is 8,500 staff, but more than that, Glasgow is now known as ‘satellite city’ and for a good reason.

“I went up to see the sector the other day – I saw a whole raft of companies, and I met 18-year-old girls from Glasgow high schools working on satellite tracking devices – I mean its extraordinary, and I think space in Greater Glasgow and Strathclyde is driving manufacturing, optics, photonics. It really is an industrial renaissance driven by the space sector.”

Freeman discussed on the show’s 67^th edition how the UK, and in particular Scotland, was well positioned to be a major player in satellite launches for years to come.

He added: “I am really excited about next year. In Scotland we have launch sites in Sutherland and Shetland, and I think Scotland could be the first country in Europe to launch.”

When asked about what the UK can learn from other countries in the space sector, the minister expressed much was still to be done in the country, but the UK can play an important leadership role on the world stage.

Freeman said: “We don’t have a SpaceX, but I’ve described the UK space sector like a Formula One pit lane without a car – but there are a lot of cars coming along – we have got some amazing companies that are really poised and I think the key is international collaboration.

“This sector is becoming an open international structure, so my big mission is making sure we are on the front foot of the international network in growing skills of science, of shared data, of collaboration because we are really good at that.

“As a country we tend to beat ourselves down, but when you go abroad and represent our country in science – boy are we respected. In engineering, in science and research, and it’s an incredible thing to see.”

This was the second appearance from Freeman on the SpaceBar after discussing strategic plans within the sector last year alongside representatives from the UK Space Agency and European Space Agency.

The online meet up was established by Edinburgh headquartered commercial space experts AstroAgency during the Covid-19 lockdown to help the sector stay connected internally and share opportunities externally, with complimentary sectors, jobseekers and investors. It has since grown an international audience, with participants as far as Canada, the US and New Zealand tuning in monthly.

Rebekah Russwurm, a Project Manager at AstroAgency who leads on SpaceBar planning for the Scottish firm, stated: “It was a delight to welcome Minister Freeman back to SpaceBar as well as Jodi Bartin from Citicourt & Co, who gave us an insight into how companies can engage in the space sector.

“As the original space communications firm with close to 60 clients around the world – including multiple national space agencies, SpaceBar is something we created in our free time to help the sector through isolation during the pandemic. However, we’ve found it to be an incredible way to connect with people interested in space, with many having thanked us for helping them find employment in the sector.

“We’re enjoying the buzz around the new format and the views on our YouTube channel are growing all the time. We’ve got some incredible guests lined up for the rest of the year and it’s exciting to see where SpaceBar goes next!”

SpaceBar is a free of charge event in line with AstroAgency’s brand values around inclusivity, diversity and educational outreach. Earlier this year the online webinar, which has also been held ‘in person’ during UK Space Agency conferences that brought the format to the physical stage, won sponsorship from internet services and communications giant Viasat, while delivery partners include space news platform Spacewatch Global, production partners Chaos Created and student space community UKSEDS.

With the sponsorship, the show moved from its Zoom format to a more engaging style to reach new audiences outside of the sector, SpaceBar is now streamed live and recorded on YouTube, allowing viewers to interact on topics and ask questions to the guests. Every episode is followed with an “after party” on Zoom to reflect upon guest comments and provide the audience with an opportunity to share challenges, look for jobs or find collaboration partners.

SpaceBar explores a variety of themes across the space value chain, covering everything from the launch supply chain to the benefits of satellite data insights for non-space companies, the economy and the environment, with the latter being a continuous theme due to the multitude of ways that satellites can support the battle against climate change. The 68^th show will take place on September 28 at 7pm, to register your interest for the next show visit: https://chaoscreated.live/spacebar/.

AstroAgency offers space organisations a unique combination of strategic marketing support, brand building techniques, space media coverage, detailed technical knowledge and business development informed by market intelligence.

For more information on AstroAgency, visit: https://astroagency.co.uk/

The post Science Minister predicts Scots to deliver first vertical launch in Europe appeared first on Deadline News.

PROGRESSIVE technology to allow residents to influence their environment with assistive controls such as eye-gaze technology, wireless switches and voice command have been installed in a concept apartment built in a theatre.

Smart home designer Function Control has provided its expertise to adapt a mock-up apartment that is helping Capability Scotland to deliver sector-leading quality of living for those with complex needs.

The charity recently launched the ‘Our Inclusive Community Project’, which includes ambitious plans for a new £28 million facility at Bertha Park in Perth. The concept apartment, located within a theatre in its nearby Upper Springland site, is a key element to one of Scotland’s largest ever co-production processes.

Capability Scotland has used the mock-up to assess layout, flow, and access prior to the cutting-edge tech installation. Hundreds of items of feedback have been received, including from the 60 residents at Upper Springland who would be in line to move to Bertha Park.

It is now undergoing a further phase of co-production that is focused on the use of advanced technology that could revolutionise life for those with a broad range of disabilities, from mobility issues to learning difficulties.

Nick Laing, Director of Function Control said: “Every resident has different needs and requirements, and so it is important that we develop a system that can assist all.

“We have implemented some of the demo technology in the mock-up apartment that allows us to learn from the system and get feedback from those who will be using it.

“Each room in the new facility will be adaptable to the individual. Staff will also be able to track key statistics from each apartment to help the residents, such as the amount of time the resident has spent on their own, room temperature, use of the medical cupboard and if windows or doors have been left open.

“Bertha Park is a pioneering project in assistive technology and will be an exemplar facility within the care sector. We want to be a part of making it a new standard bearer for future developments moving forward.”

The mock-up features lighting and blind control, as well as motorised windows and temperature control. It’s hoped the technology will give residents more influence on their own space while equipping care workers with better resources to carry out their duties.

Other features Function Control intend to implement at Bertha Park include apparatus that will monitor air quality levels and data showing which rooms get used at the facility most frequently in order to maximise the use of space.

Circadian lighting, which is designed to mimic the hours of the day and has been known to positively impact physical and mental health is being considered for the common areas at Bertha Park.

By engaging in co-production, residents and staff have been able to input their ideas and suggestions to Capability Scotland and Function Control. The feedback has allowed the designers to understand how the smallest details can have a big impact.

Naomi Smith, Co-Production Lead with Capability Scotland, said: “The addition of Function Control’s technology demonstrations marks the next exciting step in this ground-breaking project.

“Our ambition is to build the UK’s best enabling and inclusive accommodation for people with severe and complex needs, at the heart of the Bertha Park village community.

“Advanced technology is at the core of making this an exemplar facility to not just live, but work in. We have had a tremendous amount of feedback thus far, and this has helped Function Control produce a technology demo that will cater for all needs.”

Capability Scotland’s Upper Springland site on Isla Road has four registered services and offers residential and respite care to adults with physical and learning disabilities. There is also a day service, as well as a hydrotherapy pool, accessible gym, theatre, and walled gardens.

However, while the quality of care is outstanding, the site is now more than 40-years-old and becoming more difficult to maintain. Climate change also means it faces an increasing flood risk from the River Tay – and the charity wants to create state of the art new flagship services.

For more information on Capability Scotland’s ambitions at Bertha Park, please visit: https://www.capability.scot/about/bertha-park

The post Innovative technology features in care facility mock-up appeared first on Deadline News.

The new partnership will see Loganair’s fleet fitted with FLYHT-WVSS-II atmospheric water vapour sensors to measure weather data for the Met Office.

Readings are set to improve weather-based flight planning and real-time updates, helping the Met Office better predict extreme weather events.

A key benefit of the initiative is its potential to increase understanding of the non-CO2 effects of aviation, which are estimated to contribute to around 48% of the environmental impact of flying.

Adverse weather presents one of the biggest challenges for aircraft operations and can disrupt flights as well as ground-crew operations.

Loganair’s partnership with the Met Office and FLYHT Aerospace Solutions aims to improve the accuracy of forecasts and reduce flight emissions.

Newly fitted sensors will monitor environmental conditions around the aircraft during flight, gathering meteorological information via the Embraer 145 fleet which flies the airline’s unique UK routes daily.

Improved weather observations will enable the aircraft’s avoidance of severe weather and turbulence, as well as improve local forecasting for thunderstorms, fog, and showers.

The initiative will also help airlines understand the formation and potential reduction of contrails, the ice clouds trailed behind a flying aircraft, which has been identified as a sustainability goal within the airline industry.

Loganair chief executive Jonathan Hinkles said: “Loganair is resolutely committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2040.

“This partnership signifies our dedication to confronting the environmental challenges posed by aviation head-on.

“As the project progresses, we anticipate groundbreaking insights into weather patterns, contrail formation, and their cumulative effects on the environment.

“Equipped with this knowledge, Loganair hopes to drive further transformative change within the industry and to continue setting an example for sustainable aviation practices.”

Murray Skelton, FLYHT’s VP Business Development and Weather, added: “We look forward to installing our FLYHT-WVSS-ll hardware on Loganair’s aircraft over the coming months and to providing end-to-end program project maintenance and support for this innovative program.”

Met Office Associate Director of Technical Services, Bruce Truscott, said: “I am delighted to be working with FLYHT and Loganair to further improve our ability to observe and forecast the weather.”

The post Loganair joins Met Office and FLYHT to power sustainable aviation research appeared first on Deadline News.

MSP Mairi McAllan visited Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and found out more about the SRUC-led Digital Dairy Chain, as well as the organisation’s work with NatureScot to deliver a unique peatland restoration course.

On a tour of the Barony Campus near Dumfries, Ms McAllan saw first-hand SRUC’s investment in sustainable strategies, including its N2 Unit that uses revolutionary technology to eliminate methane and ammonia emissions from slurry production.

The infrastructure is now in place, with the N2 Unit – purchased with support from South of Scotland Enterprise (SoSE) – expected to be fitted later this year.

Ms McAllan was also shown how SRUC is studying on-farm hydrogen generation utilising renewable sources of energy and waste water, and how the College optimises land management practices by blending its forestry, woodland and environmental expertise.

The MSP met with with senior staff at SRUC, including Professor Wayne Powell (Principal and Chief Executive) Provost Jamie Newbold (Deputy Principal) and Mary Thomson (Vice-Principal – Skills and Lifelong Learning).

Ms McAllan said: “Tackling the twin crises of climate change and nature loss is the collective fight of our lifetime, and the lifetime of generations to come.

“The research and development being undertaken by staff and students at Scotland’s Rural College will be vital in helping our agriculture sector develop sustainable and nature positive farming practices.”

Dr Martin Valenti, Director of Net Zero, Nature & Entrepreneurship at SoSE, commented: “SRUC’s N2 Unit is such an innovative move for the agriculture sector, which we believe can be another step towards Scotland’s Just Transition to Net Zero.”

The post MSP overviews climate change research at Scotland’s Rural College appeared first on Deadline News.